Magnetic guiding assembly for yarn packages transported on a textile machine

ABSTRACT

A tube transport assembly is provided for individually transporting tubes of the type onto which yarn is wound on a textile machine. The tube transport assembly includes magnetic components for guiding and transporting the tube support members along a transport path by magnetic interaction with ferromagnetic portions of the tube support members. The magnetic components can be configured as electromagnets or as permanent magnets. The transport path includes a junction at which the tube support members can be individually branched onto a branch path and a magnetic component is positioned adjacent the junction for selectively magnetically engaging the tube support members to guide the tube support members along to selected branch paths. A vertical transport component includes magnetically active carrier members mounted on an endless belt and is operable to magnetically engage and carry the tube support members vertically.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an assembly for transporting tubes ofthe type on which yarn is wound on a textile machine.

It is known to provide a system for transporting tubes between aspinning machine and a winding machine in which the tubes areindividually supported in upright dispositions on peg tray-type tubesupport members during their transport. Such peg tray-type tube supportmembers are typically driven along fixed, slotted guide members in thelinear and arcuate transport directions. One common type of drive fortransporting the tube support members along the guide members includes aseries of interrelated flexible endless belts positioned relative to oneanother to effect smooth transfer of tube support members from oneflexible belt to another. However, the rotating components of theassemblies for driving the belts (such as, for example, the guiderollers around which the belts are trained) as well as other componentsof the transport system (such as, for example, stop members forpreventing further transport of a tube support member and branchingmembers for diverting tube support members from a given transport path)may detrimentally snag or otherwise engage stray yarn ends on the yarnpackages transported by the tube support members. This snagging activitydetrimentally impacts the production capacity of the transport system.

These known transport systems which comprise endless belts and fixed,slotted guide members also present certain disadvantages in verticallytransporting tube support members. For example, one known verticaltransport system relies upon pressing the endless belt against thebottom of the tube support members with sufficient force to insure thatthe tube support members move in correspondence with the movement of theendless belt during upwardly inclined movement of the belt. The tubesupport members are pressed against the top inner surfaces of theslotted guide member due to the action of the endless belt pressingagainst the bottom of the tube support members and the frictionalsliding of the top surfaces of the tube support members against the topinner surfaces of the guide members leads to undesirable wearing of thetube support members. Additionally, such vertical transport systemstypically transport the tube support members at an orientation inclinedfrom the vertical, thereby necessitating more operating room than wouldbe needed if the tube support members were vertically transported.Accordingly, the need exists for a transport system for transportingtube support members of the type which support tubes in uprightdispositions thereon by which transport interfering acts such assnagging of stray yarn ends are minimized and by which the spacerequirements of such a transport system are optimally minimized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an assembly for transporting tubes of thetype onto which yarn is built to form yarn packages which utilizesmagnetic attraction to guide and manipulate tube support members in aneffective manner that thereby eliminates the need for mechanicalcomponents that are susceptible to causing transport interruptions suchas snagging of stray yarn ends and permits optimal space utilization.

Briefly described, the present invention is an assembly for transportingtubes in association with a textile machine where the tubes are of thetype on which yarn is wound. The tubes are transported on a plurality oftube support members traveling along a predetermined travel path, witheach tube support member individually including a common selected one ofa magnetic means and a ferromagnetic component. According to one featureof the present invention, the tube support members are guided by guidingmeans that include the other of the magnetic means and ferromagneticcomponent, and means are provided for selectively operating the magneticmeans or ferromagnetic component of the guiding means for magneticinteraction with the tube support members to effect guiding thereof.According to another feature of the present invention, a verticaltransport component is provided with carrier member conveying meansextending between vertically spaced locations for conveying carriermembers that have magnetic means operable to magnetically interact withferromagnetic components of tube support members to support the tubesupport members for conveyance between the vertically spaced locations.

With regard to the magnetic guiding means, sensing means are included tosense the tube support members on the travel path, with operating meansfunctioning to selectively operate the magnetic means for guiding of thetube support members by magnetic interaction.

The magnetic means can take the form of a plurality of electromagnetsspaced along the travel path and functioning in relation to theconfiguration of the travel path to control the spacing of tube supportmembers along the travel path and to selectively direct tube supportmembers into selected branch paths.

In one form of the invention, electromagnets are disposed in a seriesalong the travel path and are sequentially activated to cause the tubesupport members to advance in magnetically following the sequentialactuation of the electromagnets.

In accordance with the vertical transport feature, a plurality ofcarrier members are individually secured to a carrier member conveyingmeans at spacings therealong, with the carrier member conveying meansextending vertically between spaced locations. Each carrier member hasmagnetic means operable to magnetically interact with ferromagneticcomponents of the tube support members to support the tube supportmembers for conveyance between vertically spaced locations. The magneticmeans preferably includes a magnetic contact surface compatiblyconfigured with the ferromagnetic component of the tube support membersfor surface to surface contact during magnetic interaction. In thepreferred embodiment the tube support members have the ferromagneticcomponents formed on an annular surface tapering radially inwardly inthe direction of the bottom of the tube support member and the carriermembers have compatibly configured surfaces. With this arrangement, thetube support members may be transported on a horizontal transportcomponent and oriented at a lateral inclination for magneticinterengagement with carrier members traveling vertically therepast.Contoured rails support the tube support members at their inclineddisposition and a stop rail positions the tube support member in thetransfer position. In the preferred embodiment the magnetic means of thecarrier members includes an initial tube support member engaging surfacearcuately shaped along a radius corresponding to the radius of theannular tapering ferromagnetic surface of the tube support members forinitially magnetically interengaging the tube support member along itsannular tapering surface for initially raising the tube support memberfrom its inclined position on the lower horizontal transport component.The carrier member magnetic means further includes a plurality ofgenerally planar, supplementary magnetic surfaces for surface to surfacecontact by the bottom of the tube support member ferromagnetic surfaceas the carrier members move the tube support members upwardly frominclined disposition on the horizontal transport component.

An upper horizontal transport component is preferably associated withthe vertical transport component at the upper vertical location andincludes means for inclining and supporting tube support members indisposition for transfer from the vertical component onto the horizontalcomponent. For this purpose means are provided for interrupting themagnetic interaction between the carrier member magnetic means and theferromagnetic components of the tube support members, which interruptingmeans includes a pair of tapered members positioned on opposite lateralsides of the carrier member conveying means for movement of tube supportmembers outwardly from the respective supporting carrier members tointerrupt the magnetic interaction and thereby effect release of thetube support members from the vertical transport component.

Briefly summarized, the present invention provides, in one aspect, anassembly for transporting tubes in association with a textile machine,the tubes being of the type on which yarn is wound. The assemblyincludes a plurality of tube support members for supporting tubes fortransport along a predetermined travel path, the tube support membersindividually including a common selected one of a magnetic means and aferromagnetic component and means for guiding the tube support membersduring the travel thereof along the predetermined path, the guidingmeans including the other of the magnetic means and the ferromagneticcomponent. The assembly also includes means for selectively operatingthe other one of the magnetic means and the ferromagnetic component formagnetic interaction with the tube support members to effect guidingthereof.

In this one aspect of the present invention, the tube support membersinclude the ferromagnetic component and the guiding means includes themagnetic means. Also, the selectively operating means includes sensingmeans disposed relative to the predetermined travel path of the tubesupport members for sensing the travel therepast of the tube supportmembers, the selectively operating means operating the magnetic meansfor magnetic interaction with the ferromagnetic components of the tubesupport members in response to sensing by the sensing means.

According to another feature of the assembly of the present invention,the selectively operating means includes sequencing means for operatingthe magnetic means for magnetic interaction with the ferromagneticcomponents of the tube support members in accordance with apredetermined sequence to effect advancement of the tube support membersalong at least a selected portion of the travel path.

In one configuration of the assembly of the present invention, themagnetic means includes an electromagnet configured to be magneticallyactivated in correspondence with the flow of electricity thereto. Inanother configuration, the magnetic means includes a permanent magnet.

In the configuration of the assembly including a permanent magnet, theselectively operating means includes means for selectively moving thepermanent magnet between a magnetic interaction position in which thepermanent magnet is disposed relative to the predetermined travel pathfor magnetically interacting with the ferromagnetic components of thetube support members to effect guiding of the tube support members and anon-active position in which the permanent magnet is spaced from thepredetermined travel path by an amount to substantially preclude guidingof the tube support members due to magnetic interaction between theferromagnetic components of the tube support members and the permanentmagnet.

In the configuration of the assembly including an electromagnet, themagnetic means includes a plurality of electromagnets disposed relativeto at least a selected portion of the predetermined travel path formagnetic interaction with the ferromagnetic components of the tubesupport members to guide the tube support members along the selectedportion of the predetermined travel path and means for controlling themagnetic activation of the electromagnets to sequentially magneticallyactivate the electromagnets in the direction of advancement of the tubesupport members along the selected portion of the predetermined travelpath to effect sequential individual magnetic interaction of theelectromagnets with the ferromagnetic components of the tube supportmembers. The electromagnets are preferably disposed on a common lateralside of the predetermined travel path, and the tube support memberspreferably have annular peripheries adjacent the electromagnets with theferromagnetic components disposed around the peripheries. The controlmeans cyclically activates the electromagnets to effect translationalrotation of the tube support members along the selected portion of thepredetermined travel path.

According to additional features of the assembly, the guiding meansincludes an endless member assembly having an endless member and meansfor driving the endless member. The endless member frictionally engagesthe tube support members to advance the tube support members along thepredetermined travel path in correspondence with the driving operationof the endless member. The means for selectively operating operates themagnetic means to magnetically interact with the ferromagneticcomponents of the tube support members to oppose the frictionalengagement of the tube support members by the endless member.

According to one aspect of the assembly of the present invention, thepredetermined travel path includes at least one junction from which thepredetermined travel path extends in at least two different directionsand the selectively operating means is selectively operable to operatethe magnetic means for guiding of the tube support members along aselected one of the directions of the predetermined travel pathextending from the junction.

According to a different aspect of the assembly of the presentinvention, the magnetic means includes a pair of magnets, each magnetbeing selectively operable to magnetically interact with theferromagnetic components of the tube support members at a location alongthe predetermined travel path spaced from the location along thepredetermined travel path at which the other magnet magneticallyinteracts with the tube support members. Additionally, the tube supportmembers have annular peripheries adjacent the electromagnets with theferromagnetic components disposed around the peripheries. The magnetsare spaced from one another relative to the predetermined travel path byat least the diameter of the annular periphery of a tube support member.

The assembly further includes, in this one aspect, the features of thetube support members having annular peripheries adjacent theelectromagnets with the ferromagnetic components disposed around theperipheries, and the magnetic means including a first magnet selectivelyoperable to magnetically interact with the ferromagnetic components ofthe tube support members. Also, the guiding means includes a cooperatingmember spaced from the first magnet at a spacing less than the diameterof the annular periphery of a tube support member, the first magnet andthe cooperating member cooperating to engage a tube support member atcircumferentially spaced locations thereon to respectively retain theengaged tube support member at a predetermined location along thepredetermined travel path. The first magnet is annularly shaped.Additionally, the cooperating member is a second magnet, the secondmagnet being annularly shaped.

In one of the forms of the assembly, the predetermined travel pathincludes a junction from which the predetermined travel path branches inat least two different directions and the second magnet is selectivelymagnetically activatable at a position adjacent the junction for guidingof tube support members through the junction onto a selected branch ofthe predetermined travel path through translational rotation of the tubesupport members about the circumference of the second magnet. Also, theguiding means includes means for sensing the presence of a tube supportmember at a predetermined sensing location relative to the predeterminedretaining location. The sensing means is operatively connected to theselectively operating means and operating the second magnet for magneticinteraction with the ferromagnetic component of a sensed tube supportmember in response to sensing by the sensing means of the respectivetube support member.

The one form of the assembly also includes the features that theselectively operating means selectively operates the first and secondmagnets out of magnetic interaction with the ferromagnetic component ofa tube support member engaged by the magnets to permit guiding of thetube support member by the guiding means along a predetermined one ofthe predetermined travel path branches.

The one form of the assembly can alternatively include the feature thatthe selectively operating means operates the first magnet out ofmagnetic interaction with the ferromagnetic component of a tube supportmember engaged by the first and second magnets and simultaneouslyoperates the second magnet for magnetic interaction with theferromagnetic component of the tube support member to effect guiding ofthe tube support member through the junction to a selected one of thepredetermined travel path branches. A further feature is that theselectively operating means operates the first magnet for magneticinteraction with the ferromagnetic component of a tube support memberwhich follows the tube support member in correspondence with the guidingof the tube support member by the second magnet to the selected one ofthe predetermined travel path branches to control the travel of tubesupport members along the travel path.

According to a different aspect of the form of the assembly, the guidingmeans includes a sensor, operatively connected to the selectivelyoperating means, for sensing a selected characteristic of a selected oneof a tube support member retained at the predetermined retaininglocation, a tube supported on the retaining tube support member and ayarn package built on the tube, the selectively operating meansselectively operating the first and second magnets in response tosensing by the sensor of the selected characteristic to selectivelyguide the retained tube support member to a selected one of thepredetermined travel path branches in accordance with the sensedcharacteristic.

According to yet a further additional aspect of the present invention,the guiding means includes an endless member assembly having an endlessmember and means for driving the endless member, and means forcontrolling the lateral orientation of the tube support members on theendless member transversely to the endless extent of the endless member.The lateral orientation controlling means is operable to laterallydisplace the tube support members partially laterally beyond arespective lateral side of the endless member at the predeterminedretaining location and cooperates with the first and second magnets tolaterally displace a tube support member partially laterally beyond theone respective lateral side of the endless member in position formagnetic interaction of the ferromagnetic component of the laterallydisplaced tube support member by the first and second magnets. Also, theendless member acts to advance a tube support member from thepredetermined retaining location in coordination with the operation ofthe first and second magnets to effect advancement of tube supportmembers through the junction to a selected one of the predeterminedtravel path branches.

According to yet an additional aspect of the present invention, thelateral orientation controlling means includes a component positioneddownstream of the location at which the second magnet magneticallyinteracts with the ferromagnetic components of the tube support membersrelative to the direction of advancement of the tube support membersalong the predetermined travel path for guiding tube support memberslaterally inwardly relative to the endless member.

According to another variation of the present invention, there isprovided an assembly for transporting tubes in association with atextile machine, the tubes being of the type on which yarn is wound. Theassembly preferably includes a plurality of tube support members forsupporting tubes for transport along a predetermined travel path, thetube support members including ferromagnetic components and a verticaltransport component including carrier member conveying means extendingbetween vertically spaced locations. Also, the assembly preferablyincludes a plurality of carrier members individually secured to thecarrier member conveying means at spacings therealong, each carriermember having magnetic means operable to magnetically interact with theferromagnetic components of the tube support members to support the tubesupport members for conveyance thereof between the vertically spacedlocations.

According to one aspect of this variation of the present invention, eachcarrier member magnetic means includes an initial tube support membercontact surface compatibly configured with the ferromagnetic componentof the tube support members for surface to surface contact therewithduring magnetic interaction between each carrier member magnetic meansand the ferromagnetic component of a tube support member, and thevertical transport component includes means for maintaining the initialcontact surfaces of the carrier member magnetic means in generallyvertical orientations during conveyance of the tube support members bythe vertical transport component.

According to another aspect of this other variation of the presentinvention, the ferromagnetic component of each tube support member formsan annular surface on the respective tube support member taperingradially inwardly relative to the tube support member in the directiontoward the bottom of the tube support member and a lower horizontaltransport component having a flexible endless member for travelingsupport of tube support members thereon. The flexible endless member ofsaid lower horizontal transport component extends to a transfer locationadjacent the lower one of the vertically spaced locations for thetransfer of tube support members to the carrier members on the lowerflexible endless member. Also, the assembly includes means for incliningthe lateral orientation of the lower flexible endless member at thetransfer location for transfer of the tube support members in theinclined orientations for corresponding inclined orientations of thetube support members between the carrier members and the lower flexibleendless member.

The other variation of the present invention also includes, in oneaspect, lower transfer support means positioned at the downstreamtransfer location for supporting tube support members in cooperationwith the lower flexible endless member during transfer of tube supportmembers to the carrier members. The lower flexible endless member andthe lower transfer support means cooperate to support a tube supportmember to be transferred at a predetermined inclination such that theannular tapering ferromagnetic surface of the tube support member isoriented for surface to surface magnetic interaction with the initialcontact surface of the magnetic means of a carrier member.

According to further aspects of the other variations of the presentinvention, the lower transfer support means includes a contoured raildisposed at the downstream transfer location having a contour forcontinuously supporting an exposed upper end of a tube supported on atube support member during inclining of the tube in correspondence withthe movement of the respective tube support member from a horizontalorientation to an inclined transfer orientation at the downstreamtransfer location. Also, the lower transfer support means includes astop rail located at the downstream transfer location for positioning atube support member in position for transfer at a predetermined lateralorientation relative to the lower flexible endless member.

According to an additional further aspect of the other variation of thepresent invention, the ferromagnetic component of each tube supportmember includes an annular bottom surface at the circumference of thebottom of the respective tube support member and the magnetic means ofeach carrier member includes an initial tube support member contactsurface and a plurality of generally planar, supplementary magneticsurfaces. Also, each carrier member includes bracket means forsupporting the plurality of supplementary magnetic surfaces inrespective spaced dispositions from one another for surface to surfacemagnetic interengagement of each supplementary magnetic surface with theannular ferromagnetic bottom surface of a tube support member atcircumferentially spaced locations thereon. According to one feature ofthis further aspect of the present invention, the initial tube supportmember contact surface of each magnetic means is arcuately shaped alonga radius corresponding to the radius of the annular taperingferromagnetic surface of a tube support member for initiallymagnetically interengaging the tube support member along its annulartapering ferromagnetic surface for initially raising the tube supportmember from the lower horizontal transport component into surface tosurface contact of the supplementary magnetic surfaces with the annularferromagnetic bottom surface of the respective tube support member.

In yet a further aspect of the other variation of the present invention,there is provided an upper horizontal transport component having aflexible endless member for transporting tube support members thereon,the upper flexible endless member extending from adjacent the uppervertical location for the transfer of tube support members from thecarrier members of the vertical transport component to the upperflexible endless member for transporting of tube support members fromthe upper vertical location. Also, there is provided means for incliningthe lateral orientation of the upper flexible endless member at thetransfer location for receiving tube support members transferred fromthe carrier members to the upper flexible endless member.

The upper horizontal transport component preferably includes uppertransfer support means positioned at the upper vertical location forinclining and supporting tube support members in disposition fortransfer to the upper flexible endless member. Also, the upper transfersupport means preferably includes a contoured rail having a contour forcontinuously supporting an exposed upper end of a tube supported on atube support member being transferred onto the upper flexible endlessmember during movement of the respective tube support member from ahorizontal orientation to an inclined transfer orientation at theupstream transfer location.

According to yet another aspect of the other variation of the presentinvention, there is provided means for interrupting the magneticinteraction between the carrier member magnetic means and theferromagnetic components of the tube support members supported on thecarrier members at the transfer location to effect release of the tubesupport members from the carrier members onto the upper flexible endlessmember. The interrupting means preferably includes a pair of taperedmembers positioned on opposite lateral sides of the carrier memberconveying means and tapering outwardly therefrom, the tapered membersbeing laterally spaced from one another by an amount sufficient topermit passage therebetween of carrier members and less than the extentof a tube support member for movement of each tube support memberoutwardly from the respective supporting carrier member to interrupt themagnetic interaction and thereby effect release of the tube supportmember from the vertical transport component.

According to an additional aspect of the present invention, the initialcontact surface has an area at least twice as large as the area of eachof the supplementary magnetic surfaces. Also, the initial contactsurface and the supplementary magnetic surfaces have opposite magneticpolarity.

Other and further features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a textile winding machine havingone embodiment of the tube transport assembly of the present inventionincorporated therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the tube transportassembly of in FIG. 1, showing the electromagnetic means of the tubetransport assembly at a winding station;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the textile winding machine ofFIG. 1, showing a modification of the embodiment of the tube transportassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the textile winding machine ofFIG. 1, showing another modification of the embodiment of the tubetransport assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of a textile windingmachine and showing another form of the embodiment of the tube transportassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a portion of a textile winding machine andshowing a further form of the embodiment of the tube transport assemblyof FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view, in partial vertical section, of onetype of tube support member, with a tube supported thereon, suitable foruse in the embodiment of the tube transport assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view, in partial vertical section, ofanother type of tube support member suitable for use in the embodimentof the tube transport assembly shown in FIG. 1 and illustrated invertical section, a magnetic component of the tube transport assembly;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view, in partial vertical section, of anelectromagnetic member and a further type of tube support membersuitable for use in the embodiment of the tube transport assembly shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of a vertical transport component ofthe embodiment of the tube transport assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view, in partial vertical section, of thevertical transport component shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of another form of the verticaltransport component shown in FIGS. 10 and 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged side elevational view, in partial verticalsection, of a portion of the vertical transport component shown in FIG.12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another type of the vertical transportcomponent suitable for use in the embodiment of the tube transportassembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of a carrier member and aportion of the carrier member conveying means of the vertical transportcomponent shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a front elevational view, in partial vertical section, of anadditional modification of the embodiment of the tube transport assemblyshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the additional modification of the embodimentof the tube transport assembly shown in FIG. 16; and

FIG. 18 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the tube transportassembly shown in FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIGS. 1-18, one embodiment of the tube transport assembly of thepresent invention is illustrated. As seen in FIG. 1, the tube transportassembly is adapted to transport tubes of the type on which yarn iswound through, for example, a textile winding machine 1. The tubetransport assembly includes a plurality of tube support members 13having annular bases and upstanding pegs for individually supporting aplurality of tubes 15 in upright dispositions during travel between ayarn package receiving location at which a plurality of yarn packages 14individually built on the tubes 15 are supplied to the textile windingmachine 1, the winding stations of the textile machine and an empty tubetransfer location at which the tubes 15, having no yarn thereon, aretransferred from the textile winding machine 1. The tube transportassembly includes a guide means defining a yarn package delivery route 3along which the tube support members 13, with the yarn packages 14supported thereon, are transported from the yarn package receivinglocation to the winding stations of the textile winding machine 1.

The initial portion of the yarn package delivery route 3 extending fromthe yarn package receiving location is formed by a conventional flexibleendless member in the form of a main supply belt 4 trained around aconventional guide roller (not shown) and a conventional drive roller5', which is operatively connected to a conventional drive motor 5 fordriving operation of the main supply belt 4. The main supply belt 4extends along a slot formed by a pair of opposed conventional guideplates 6 which include opposed curved edge portions spaced from oneanother at a spacing relatively slightly greater than the diameter of atube support member 13 for maintaining the tube support members 13 in arelatively stable lateral orientation on the main supply belt 4 relativeto the endless extent of the belt.

The yarn package delivery route 3 is additionally formed by aconventional flexible endless member in the form of a final supply belt7 extending parallel to the main supply belt 4 and intermediate the mainsupply belt 4 and the winding stations of the textile winding machine 1.The final supply belt 7 is trained around a conventional guide roller(not shown) and a conventional drive roller 10', which is operativelyconnected to a conventional drive motor 10 for driving operation of thefinal supply belt 7. The drive motor 10 is operatively connected to acontrol unit 11 for control of the operation of the drive motor.

A pair of conventional stop members 12 (only one of which is shown) aredisposed at respective locations transversely across the travel path ofthe final supply belt 7 beyond the endmost winding stations forconfining the tube support members 13 to travel within the travel pathof the final supply belt 7 extending between the two stop members. Thecontrol unit 11 controls the drive motor 10 to cyclically reversiblydrive the final supply belt 7 in opposite travel directions.

A plurality of sliding support members 27 each extend through arespective one of the winding stations 2 for sliding support of the tubesupport members 13 between the final supply belt 7 and a conventionalflexible endless member in the form of a discharge belt 29 fortransporting the tube support members 13 from the sliding supportmembers 27 to a location for further handling such as, for example, anempty tube transfer location. The sliding support members 27 havelateral guide rails are preferably formed of a magnetically neutralmaterial such as, for example, plastic which additionally offers onlyrelatively low frictional resistance to the movement of the tube supportmembers 13 therealong. The lateral extent of the final supply belt 7perpendicular to its endless extent is less than the diameter of a tubesupport member 13 so that the upstream ends of the winding stationsupport members can readily receive the tube support members 13 formovement through the winding stations.

A support member 20 forms a branch of the delivery route 3 and includesa sliding surface extending from the main supply belt 4 to the finalsupply belt 7 for sliding support of the tube support members 13traveling from the main supply belt 4 to the final supply belt 7. Thesupport member 20 is disposed in a slot defined by two opposed linearguide plates 21 which are spaced from one another at a spacing slightlygreater than the diameter of a tube support member 13. To facilitatesliding movement of the tube support member 13 along the support member20, the main supply belt 4 is disposed at a higher horizontal plane thanthe final supply belt 7 and the support member 20 extends at an inclinefrom the main supply belt 4 toward the final supply belt 7.

To beneficially guide the tube support members 13 on the several beltsand other components which form the yarn delivery route 3 and to controlthe feed of the yarn packages 14 supported on the tube support members13 through the several winding stations for winding of the yarn packagesthereat, each of the tube support members 13 includes a ferromagneticcomponent and the guide means of the tube transport assembly includesmagnetic means for magnetically attracting and guiding the tube supportmembers during their travel. The guide means of the tube transportassembly also includes means for selectively operationally disposing themagnetic means for magnetic interaction with the ferromagneticcomponents of the tube support members to effect guiding of the tubesupport members.

FIGS. 7-9 each illustrate a different type of the tube support members13 suitable for use in the tube transport assembly of the presentinvention. As seen in FIG. 7, each tube support member 13 includes anannular base portion, an annular collar portion of lesser diameter thanthe annular base portion for supporting the bottom of a tube 15 thereonand a peg coaxially mounted to the annular collar portion of a diametercorresponding to the inside diameter of a tube 15 for snugly receiving atube inserted thereon. The ferromagnetic component of the packagesupport member 13 includes an annular ring 34 disposed about thecircumference of its annular base portion and secured thereto byconventional securement means such as, for example, adhesive means. Theouter circumference of the annular ring 34 is covered with amagnetically-neutral coating 55 which can be, for example, formed ofplastic material. The annular metal ring 34 is formed of a ferromagneticmaterial which is magnetically active.

Another type of tube support member 13 suitable for use in the tubetransport assembly of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 8 andincludes an annular ring 34' disposed in an annular slot formed in theouter circumference of the annular base portion of the tube supportmember 13'. The annular ring 34' has a radial extent less than theradial extent of the slot formed in the annular base portion so that theouter surface of the annular ring 35' is spaced radially inwardly of theouter circumference of the annular base portion and protected thereby.

In FIG. 9, the ferromagnetic component of a further type of tube supportmember includes an annular ring 34" which forms a tapering surface ofthe base portion of a tube support member 13". The annular ring 34'includes an outer surface tapering inwardly relative to the annular baseportion in the direction toward the bottom of the tube support member13".

The magnetic component of the guiding means of the tube transportassembly includes, as seen in FIG. 1, a conventional electromagneticdevice 16 operatively connected via a connector 16' to a control unit17". Additionally, the magnetic component includes a second conventionalelectromagnet 17 operatively connected via a connector 17' to thecontrol unit 17" and disposed adjacent the travel path of the mainsupply belt 4 at a location downstream of the electromagnet 16. Thecontrol unit 17" is operatively connected via a connector 16" to asensor 50.

The magnetic component of the tube transport assembly additionallyincludes a sensor 18 disposed adjacent the travel path of the mainsupply belt 4 downstream of the electromagnets 16, 17 and operativelyconnected via a connector 18" to the control unit 17". An electromagnet19 is disposed adjacent the junction of the main supply belt 4 and thebranch support member 20 and is operatively connected via a connector18' to the control unit 17". This electromagnet is shaped in relation tothe junction to pull tube support members from the main supply belt 4onto the branch support member 20 when the electromagnet is energized.

Although the magnetic component of the tube transport assembly includesadditional elements, the operation of the electromagnets 16, 17 and 19will now be described to illustrate the guiding operation of the tubetransport assembly through the magnetic interaction between the tubesupport members 13 and the electromagnets. The electromagnets 16, 17 canbe operated by the control unit 17" in conjunction with the sensing ofthe sensor 18 to create magnetic attraction of the tube support memberby the electromagnets and to stop advancement of the attracted tubesupport member along the delivery route and thereby control the trafficflow of the tube support members 13 to the winding stations. Forexample, the transport of the tube support members 13 by the main supplybelt 4 can be controlled to insure that each tube support member 13 lagsbehind the immediately preceding tube support member by a predeterminedtime lag so that, for example, an undesired overloading of the branchsupport member 20 and/or the final supply belt 7 can be avoided. If sucha predetermined time lag between each adjacent pair of the tube supportmembers 13 is introduced before the tube support members reach thejunction of the main supply belt 4 and the branch support member 20, thediversion of the selected tube support members onto the support member20 can be facilitated. Additionally, if yarn end preparation devices arepositioned along the travel path of the main supply belt 4, theintroduction of a predetermined time lag between the travel of theadjacent tube support members 13 can facilitate the orderly feeding ofthe yarn packages 14 to the yarn end preparation devices for preparationof their yarn ends.

Effective magnetic interaction of the respective electromagnets 16, 17with the ferromagnetic components of the tube support members 13 isachieved, for example, by having the electromagnets 16, 17 laterallyaligned with and having surface configurations complementary with thesurfaces of the ferromagnetic components on the tube support members.

The tube support members 13, which support the full yarn packages 14thereon, are conveyed by the main supply belt 4 toward theelectromagnets 16, 17. After travel of the first oncoming tube supportmember 13 beyond the electromagnet 17, the control unit 17" selectivelyoperationally disposes the electromagnet 17 for magnetic interactionwith the ferromagnetic component of the next oncoming tube supportmember 13 by controlling the flow of electricity from a conventionalelectrical source (not shown) to the electromagnet 17 to magneticallyactivate the electromagnet. At the same time, the control unit 17"blocks the flow of electrical current to the electromagnet 16 so theelectromagnet 16 remains magnetically neutral so that the supportmembers can freely pass thereby. The electromagnet 17 magneticallyinteracts with the ferromagnetic component of the first oncoming tubesupport member 13 and the strength of the magnetic interaction iscontrolled to a level sufficient to insure that the first engaged tubesupport member 13 remains in a relatively stationary position adjacentthe electromagnet 17 despite continued driving operation of the mainsupply belt 4 which frictionally engages the bottom of the engaged tubesupport member.

The tube support member immediately following the engaged tube supportmember 13 is moved by the driving operation of the main supply belt 4into abutment with the engaged tube support member 13 and each of thefollowing tube support members 13 move into abutment with theimmediately preceding tube support member in similar manner. Subsequentto the magnetic activation of the electromagnet 17 by the control unit17" to engage the first engaged tube support member 13, the control unit17" electrically activates the electromagnet 16 and deactivates theelectromagnet 17. As a result, the first tube support member 13 isreleased for travel on the main supply belt 4 and the next tube supportmember is magnetically engaged by the now-activated electromagnet 16 andheld relatively stationary adjacent the electromagnet 16, and the tubesupport members following the second engaged tube support member areheld in serial abutment with one another by the driving operation of themain supply belt 4. After momentary deactivation of the firstelectromagnet 17, the second electromagnet 16 is momentarily deactivatedto permit the next tube support member to advance on the belt 4 and thefirst electromagnet 17 is again activated to engage and stop the nexttube support member in readiness for subsequent release.

The first released tube support member 13 travels downstream from theelectromagnets 16,17 past the sensor 18 which transmits a signal via theconnector 18" to the control unit 17" indicating the passage therepastof the first oncoming tube support member. The control unit 17"interprets this signal from the sensor 18 as an indication that the nexttube support member 13 currently engaged by the electromagnet 17 can nowbe released for further downstream travel. The control unit 17"accordingly blocks the flow of electrical current to the electromagnet17 and thereby interrupts the magnetic activation of the electromagnetto effect a cessation of the magnetic interaction between theelectromagnet and the first engaged tube support member 13.

When the control unit 17" has received a signal from the sensor 18 thatthe tube support member previously engaged by the electromagnet 17 hasnow passed downstream beyond the sensor 18, the control unit 17"evaluates this signal to determine if a predetermined time correspondingto the desired lag between each tube support member has passed. If theactual time lag between the travel of the tube support member justsensed by the sensor 18 and the tube support member now engaged by theelectromagnet 17 is at least equal to or greater than the predeterminedtime lag, the control unit 17" blocks the flow of electrical current tothe electromagnet 17 to effect release of the tube support member 13engaged thereat for further downstream transport by the main supply belt4.

With further reference to the components of the tube transport assemblyof the present invention, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a sliding supportmember 27 extends through each winding station of the winding machine 1and is operable to continuously divert tube support members from thefinal supply belt 7 for feed to the respective winding stations 2. A rowof electromagnets 28 are disposed along one lateral side of each slidingsupport member 27 with the electromagnets 28 being along alternate sidesof alternate winding stations so that each row is convenientlyassociated with an adjacent row of an adjacent winding station. Each rowof electromagnet 28 associated with a respective winding station 2 isconnected to a plurality of sensors 22-25, each of which is operativelyconnected via a connector 22'-25', respectively, to a central controlunit 33.

A conventional means for selectively retaining the tube support members13 at the yarn winding location of each winding station 2 for winding ofthe yarn package 14 supported thereon can be in the form, for example,of a conventional hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly 26 having atube support member engaging component 26" disposed on the free end ofits piston and operatively connected via a connector 33' to therespective central control unit 33. The cylinder and piston assembly 26is selectively controlled by the central control unit 33 to extend itstube support member engaging component 26" into engagement with a tubesupport member 13 at the yarn winding location of the respective windingstation 2 and to retract its piston to move its tube support memberengaging component 26" out of engagement with the respective tubesupport member 13 at the yarn winding location. The cylinder and pistonassembly 26 is operatively connected via a connector 26' to aconventional electronic yarn sensor (not shown) which senses thepresence or absence of a yarn traveling from a yarn package 14 beingunwound at the yarn winding location.

As seen in FIG. 2, the electromagnets 28 of each plurality ofelectromagnets are retained in a uniform spacing from one another bymounting in a housing 36 and the ends of the electromagnets 28 facingthe travel path of the sliding support member 27 are commonly coatedwith a magnetically neutral coating 35 which can be, for example, formedof plastic. As seen in FIG. 8, the coating 35 can be provided as wellover the top and bottom of the electromagnets 28.

A row of four sensors 22-25 are disposed at each winding station 3 alongthe side thereof opposite the side along which the row of electromagnets28 are disposed upstream of the yarn winding location and the fourthsensor 25 is disposed downstream of the yarn winding location.

The operation of the tube transport assembly for transporting the tubesupport members 13 from the yarn package receiving location along thedelivery route 3, through the winding stations 2 and thereafter alongthe discharge belt 29 to the empty tube transfer location will now bedescribed. The tube support members 13, each supporting a yarn package14 thereon, are transported by the main supply belt 4 along the deliveryroute 3 for feeding to the winding stations 2. The electromagnets 16, 17are operated as described above under the control of the control unit17" to control the feed of yarn packages such as, for example, byintroducing a predetermined uniform time lag between the travel of eachadjacent tube support member 13 along the delivery route 3. As each ofthe tube support members 13 is transported adjacent the electromagnet 19by the main supply belt 4, the control unit 17" controls theelectromagnet 19 to selectively divert tube support members 13 onto thesupport member 20 and permit others of the tube support members 13 tocontinue to be transported by the main supply belt 4 to another handlinglocation such as, for example, another section of the winding machine orto another winding machine. The control unit 17" can be designed todivert the tube support members 13 from the travel path of the mainsupply belt 4 in accordance with, for example, a predetermined feedpattern such as, for example, a feed pattern in which every other tubesupport member 13 is diverted from the main supply belt 4 for feeding tothe winding machine 1. To implement such a feed pattern, the controlunit 17" magnetically activates the electromagnet 19 in response to thesensing of a tube support member 13 by the sensor 18 and correspondinglyde-activates the electromagnet 19 in correspondence with the sensing bythe sensor 18 of every other tube support member 13 traveling therepast.

The sensor 18 can be alternatively provided with conventional colorsensing means for sensing the color of each tube support member 13 ortube 15 traveling therepast and the control unit 17" can be designed toselectively magnetically activate the electromagnet 19 in correspondencewith the sensing of a predetermined color by the sensor 18. The coloringon the tube support member 13 or the tubes 15 can correspond, forexample, to the particular batch in which the respective yarn packages14 were wound.

Those tube support members 13 diverted onto the support member 20 slidetherealong onto the final supply belt 7. The final supply belt 7 isoperated in a cyclically reversing manner to continuously transport thetube support members 13 into contact with the upstream ends of thesliding support members 27 of the winding stations. A sensor 50, whichis positioned adjacent the travel path of the endless final supply belt7 at a full load location relatively slightly offset from the tubesupport member stop component 12, transmits a signal via the connector16" to the control unit 17" in response to sensing by the sensor 50 of afully loaded condition of the final supply belt 7. For example, if thesensor 50 senses the presence of a tube support member 13 thereadjacenton the final supply belt 7 generally at the time at which the motor 10is controlled to reverse the travel direction of the final supply belt 7to travel in the direction of the drive roller 10', this signal can beinterpreted by the control unit 17" as an indication that the finalsupply belt 7 is fully loaded with tube support members 13. In responsethereto, the control unit 17" can be designed to prevent the furtherfeeding of the tube support members 13 to the final supply belt 7 bydeactivating the electromagnet 19 diverting tube support members to thebranch support member or activating the electromagnets 16, 17 thatprevent tube support members from advancing on the main supply belt 4until the final supply belt 7 is no longer full.

The sliding support members 27 are continuously fed with tube supportmembers from the final supply belt 7 during the travel of the finalsupply belt 7 since the tube support members partially overlap thesliding support members 27 which thereby engage the overlapping portionsof the tube support members and remove them from the belt 7. The controlunit 33 controls the magnetic activation o the electromagnets 28 toeffect controlled movement of the tube support members 13 to and fromthe winding stations 2 along the sliding support members 27. As seen inFIG. 2, the electromagnets of each respective row of electromagnets 28are individually sequentially magnetically activated to effectcontrolled movement of the tube support members 13 into and through thewinding stations.

One exemplary pattern of the magnetic activation of the electromagnets28 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2. Each numeral 0 represents anelectromagnet in a non-activated state and each numeral 1 indicates anelectromagnet in a magnetically activated state. Initially, the thirdand ninth electromagnets, as viewed from the left in FIG. 2, aresimultaneously activated. The control unit 33 thereafter sequentiallymagnetically activates the individual electromagnets 28 by magneticallyde-activating the third and ninth electromagnets and, simultaneously,magnetically activating the fourth and tenth electromagnets 28, asschematically represented by the first line of numerals below thecabinet 36. Thereafter, the control unit 33 simultaneously magneticallyde-activates the fourth and tenth electromagnets 28 and magneticallyactivates the fifth and eleventh electromagnets, as schematicallyrepresented by the second line of numerals below the cabinet 36 in FIG.2. The sequential magnetic activation of progressively furtherdownstream individual electromagnets 28 causes, by magnetic attraction,corresponding translational rotation of the tube support members 13 (inthe clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2) to thereby effect controlledmovement of the tube support members through the winding station 2.Translational rotation is to be understood as the simultaneous rotationof each tube support member 13 about its axis and the movement of thetube support member along the travel path of the sliding support member27.

The rotating tube support members 13 roll along the electromagnets inthe direction of the currently magnetically activated individualelectromagnet 28 due to the magnetic interaction between theferromagnetic component of the tube support member and the magneticallyactivated individual electromagnet. Since each of the tube supportmembers 13 is provided with the magnetically neutral coating 55, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the translational rotational movement of thetube support members 13 along the coating 35 of the plurality of theelectromagnets 28 is relatively smooth and beneficially minimizes theoccurrence of magnetically interfering dust or debris which could arisefrom the metal to magnet contact of an exposed ferromagnetic componentof a tube support member 13 and the electromagnets 28.

The control unit 33 sequentially magnetically activates theelectromagnets 28 associated with each winding station 2 to insure thateach of the sliding support members 27 is fully loaded with tube supportmembers 13 for advancement to the winding stations 2. The sensors 22-24sense the presence of the tube support members at respective locationsalong the travel path of the belts 27 and transmit this information tothe control unit 33.

The control unit 33 evaluates the sensing by the sensors 22-24 of thepresence of the tube support members 13 thereadjacent as an indicationthat the sliding support member 27 is fully loaded with tube supportmembers for feeding to the respective winding station 2. The controlunit 33 ceases its sequential magnetic activation of the electromagnets28 in response to the sensing by the fourth sensor 25 of the respectivewinding station that a tube support member 13 is traveling therepast,which is evaluated by the control unit 33 as an indication that the tubesupport member 13 which was just located at the yarn winding locationhas passed downstream of the sensor 25 and that a fresh yarn package 14has been advanced into the yarn winding location.

The cylinder and piston assembly 26 retracts its tube support memberengaging component 26" in response to a signal from the conventionalyarn sensor of the winding station that the yarn package 14 supported onthe respective tube support member 13 has been fully unwound or that nofurther unwinding is occurring (because, for example, of a yarn breaksituation). The respective tube support member 13 is thereaftertransported downstream past the sensor 25 and the next following tubesupport member is advanced to the yarn winding location through thesequential magnetic activation of the electromagnets 28 by the controlunit 33.

In FIG. 8, an advantageous form of the sliding support members 27 isillustrated. Each sliding support member 27 includes a pair of parallellaterally outward rails 27' and an intermediate rail 27" and extendingbetween and parallel thereto. The rails 27', 27" extend from an upstreamlocation adjacent the travel path of the final supply belt 7 to adownstream location adjacent the travel path of the discharge belt 29.The top surface of the intermediate rail 27" is disposed at a relativelyslightly higher horizontal plane than the top surfaces of the rails 27'.This configuration of the sliding support member 27 advantageouslyreduces the frictional resistance of the sliding support member to therotational movement of the tube support members 13 therealong. As eachtube support member 13 is rotatingly advanced along the sequentiallymagnetically activated electromagnets 28, its ferromagnetic componentsuch as, for example, the ferromagnetic component 34' seen in FIG. 8, isgenerally horizontally aligned with the respective magneticallyactivated individual electromagnet 28 by magnetic attraction and thetube support member 13 such as, for example, the tube support member 13'seen in FIG. 8, is supported solely on its bottom by the intermediaterail 27" so that only the top surface of the intermediate rail 27"offers frictional resistance to the rotation of the tube support member13'. The rails 27' provide support to the tube support member 13' duringthose periods in which the electromagnets 28 are de-activated.

The controlled feeding of the tube support members 13 from the yarnpackage receiving location to the final supply belt 7 insures that thefinal supply belt 7 is not overloaded with tube support members 13 tothe extent that the tube support members detrimentally press upon thetube support members already loaded on the sliding support members 27and thereby interfere with the orderly controlled movement of these tubesupport members in advancing direction toward the winding stations 2.Additionally, this controlled feeding of the tube support membersprovides the capability to selectively retain tube support members 13which have been advanced beyond the yarn winding locations at thewinding stations 2 in the event that the discharge belt 29 is fullyloaded with tube support members being advanced toward the empty tubetransfer location.

The present invention also contemplates that the electromagnets 28 ofeach respective row of electromagnets can be magnetically activated toopposite magnetic polarities in an alternating manner. For example,every other one of the electromagnets 28 can be activated with anegative magnetic polarity and the alternate electromagnets can beactivated with a positive magnetic polarity. This arrangement assuresthat the path of magnetic energy extends from a respective one of themagnetically oppositely activated individual electromagnets directlythrough the ferromagnetic component of the engaged tube support member13 to the other, thereby creating a reliable interaction between theelectromagnets 28 and the tube support members 13.

The second and third sensors 23, 24 in each winding station may beomitted if desired.

In FIG. 3, a modification of the tube transport assembly of the presentinvention is illustrated. In lieu of the row of electromagnets 28illustrated in FIG. 1, an endless moving magnet assembly is providedwhich includes a plurality of permanently magnetically activated magnets38 secured at uniform spacings on a conventional flexible endless belt37 trained around a guide roller 39 and a drive roller 40. The driveroller 40 is operatively connected to a drive motor 41 for drivingoperation of the belt 37 and the drive motor 41 is operatively connectedvia a connector 41' to a control unit 52. A sensor 42 is disposedadjacent the travel path of the tube support members 13 along thesliding support member 27 upstream from the yarn winding location and isoperatively connected via a connector 42' to the control unit 52. Asecond sensor 53 is disposed adjacent the travel path of the tubesupport members at the yarn winding location and is operativelyconnected via a connector 53' to the cylinder and piston assembly 26associated with the respective winding station 2. The cylinder andpiston assembly 26 is operatively connected via a connector 26'" to thecontrol unit 52. A sensor 51 disposed adjacent the travel path of thetube support members 13 along the sliding support member 27 at alocation downstream of the yarn winding location is operativelyconnected via a connector 51' to the control unit 52.

The modified tube transport assembly illustrated in FIG. 3 operates asfollows. The tube support members 13 are transported by the final supplybelt 7 during its cyclically reversing movements and the tube supportmembers slide onto the sliding support members 27 during transporttherepast. The cylinder and piston assembly 26 transmits a signal viathe connector 26'" to the control unit 52 indicating that the tubesupport member engaging component 26" has been retracted from itsengaging position. In response to this signal, the control unit 52controls the motor 41 via the connector 42' to drivingly operate thebelt 37. The belt 37 is driven in a direction which continuously bringsthe permanent magnets 38 secured thereto into adjacent relation with thetravel path of the sliding support member 27. The permanent magnets 38pass sufficiently close to the travel path of the tube support members13 supported on the sliding support member 27 such that magneticinteraction occurs between the permanent magnets and the tube supportmembers to effect transport of the package support members from theupstream end of the sliding support member 27 to the yarn windinglocation.

Once the driving operation of the belt 37 has effected movement of atube support member into the yarn winding location, the sensor 53adjacent the yarn winding location transmits a signal via the connector53' to the cylinder and piston assembly 26 to return its tube supportmember engaging component 26' to its package engaging positiontransverse the travel path of the sliding support member 27 to engagethe respective sensed tube support member 13. The sensor 53 ispreferably positioned at a height for sensing the collar portion of thetube support members 13 traveling therepast. Additionally, the sensor 53can be configured to sense the open space between adjacent tube supportmembers 13 traveling along the sliding support member 27. The sensing ofan open space could be interpreted as an indication that no further tubesupport members 13 are traveling along the respective sliding supportmember 27, in response to which the belt 37 carrying the electromagnets38 need not be operated.

The control unit 52 continues to operate the motor 41 to drive the belt37 until a signal is received from the sensor 51 indicating that no tubesupport member 13 is traveling therepast, which means that a tubesupport member has been stopped at the winding location.

The permanent magnets 38 are preferably secured to the belt 37 in pairsand the spacing between each adjacent pair of permanent magnetspreferably corresponds to approximately the diameter of the annular baseportion of a tube support member 13. Moreover, the present inventionadditionally contemplates that each permanent magnet of each pair ofpermanent magnets has a magnetic polarity opposite to the magneticpolarity of the other of the pair of permanent magnets 38. Such aconfiguration beneficially increases the magnetic interaction betweenthe ferromagnetic component of the tube support members 13 and thepermanent magnets 38.

The tube support member engaging component 26" at the winding locationpreferably tapers toward the free end of the piston of the cylinder andpiston assembly 26 in the travel direction of the tube support members13 along the sliding support member 27 to facilitate smooth extension ofthe tube support member engaging component 26" into engagement with anoncoming tube support member 13.

In a further modification of the tube transport assembly shown in FIG.3, the magnet carrying belt 37 can be conventionally operativelyconnected to the drive motor which drives the discharge belt 29 by, forexample, a conventional bevel gear assembly having one bevel gearmounted to the shaft of a roller rotatingly driven by the discharge belt29 and a mating bevel gear mounted to the shaft of a drive roller fordriving the belt 37. In yet another modification of the tube transportassembly shown in FIG. 3, the magnet moving belt can be disposed belowthe sliding support member 27. In such a configuration, theferromagnetic component of each tube support member 13 can be formed outof a mixture of plastic and ferromagnetic material. Additionally, theferromagnetic component can be disposed on the underside of each tubesupport member 13 such as, for example, in the form of a metal plateformed by a mold process on the bottom of the tube support member. Themetal plate preferably would be formed with a metallic rim portion tothereby reduce the surface area of the tube support member 13 which canbe detrimentally frictionally engaged by the sliding support member 27.

In FIG. 4, an alternative configuration of the tube support membertraffic controlling arrangement along the delivery route 3 shown in FIG.1 is illustrated. In lieu of the electromagnets 16, 17 and 19, thealternative configuration includes a pair of permanent magnets 46, 49each connected to the free end of a piston of a respective hydrauliccylinder and piston assembly 47, 48, respectively. The cylinder andpiston assemblies 47, 48 are operatively connected via a connector 47',48', respectively, to a control unit 54.

Each cylinder and piston assembly 47, 48 is operable to extend itspiston to move the respective permanent magnet 46, 49 from anon-engaging position displaced from the travel path of the tube supportmembers 13 along the main supply belt 4, as shown in the broken lines inFIG. 4, to a magnetic engaging position more closely adjacent the travelpath of the tube support members 13 along the main supply belt 4, asshown by the solid line position in FIG. 4, for magnetically engagingthe tube support members 13 transported therepast. The engaging positionof the permanent magnet 46 is upstream of the engaging position of thepermanent magnet 49 relative to the direction of travel of the tubesupport members 13 on the main supply belt 4.

A permanent magnet 43 has a pair of connected surfaces defining anobtuse angle therebetween corresponding to the obtuse angle between themain supply belt 4 and the branch support member 20 and is disposedadjacent the junction of the main supply belt 4 and the branch supportmember 20 with one surface adjacent the main supply belt and the othersurface adjacent the branch support member. The permanent magnet 43 issecured to the free end of the piston of a hydraulic cylinder and pistonassembly 44. The cylinder and piston assembly 44 is operativelyconnected via a connector 44' to the control unit 54. The permanentmagnet 43 is movable from a non-engaged position displaced from thetravel paths of the tube support members 13 along the main supply belt 4and the support member 20, as shown by the broken line position in FIG.4, and an engaging position adjacent both the travel path of the tubesupport members 13 along the main supply belt 4 and along the branchsupport member 20, as shown by the solid line position in FIG. 4, forengaging tube support members 13 traveling therepast and directing themfrom the main supply belt 4 onto the branch support member 20.

A sensor 45 is disposed adjacent the travel path of the main supply belt4 intermediate the permanent magnet 14 and the permanent magnet 43 andis operatively connected via a connector 45' to the control unit 54. Thecontrol unit 54 controls the movement of the permanent magnets 46, 49and 43 between their respective non-engaged positions and their engagedpositions to selectively operatively dispose the permanent magnets formagnetic interaction with the ferromagnetic components of the tubesupport members 13 traveling therepast. The control unit 54 can bedesigned to selectively dispose the permanent magnets 46, 49 and 43 intheir respective positions in correspondence with the electrical flowpattern discussed with respect to the tube transport assembly shown inFIG. 1 to effect controlled movement of the tube support members 13along the main supply belt 4 and along the support member 20.

In FIG. 5, another aspect of the tube transport assembly of the presentinvention is illustrated. A section of the main supply path 3 or finalsupply path 7 discussed with respect to the embodiment in FIG. 1 can beprovided with a means for selectively guiding the tube support membersonto a branch leading to, for example, the final supply path or to awinding station. The guiding means includes a pair of guide plates 63,62 supported on a frame 77 of the textile machine and havingcomplementarily configured edge portions 56, 57, respectively, forguiding tube support members along a path 58 having a flexible endlessbelt 58' on which the tube support members are transported.

The edge portions 56, 57 are disposed in a common horizontal planecorresponding to the horizontal orientation of the annular base portionsof the tube support members for guiding engagement therewith. Anelectromagnet assembly 59 is disposed on one respective lateral side ofthe belt 58' and is fixedly secured to the frame 77 by a securement postmember 68. The electromagnet assembly 59 includes an annularly shapedmagnetically activatable component 73.

A second electromagnet assembly 60 is secured by a securement postmember 74 to the frame 77 to the same respective lateral side of thebelt 58' at a location downstream of the electromagnet assembly 59. Theelectromagnet assembly 60 includes an annularly shaped magneticallyactivatable component 75.

The guide plate 63 forms a branch path 65 branched from the travel path58 of the belt 58' at a junction immediately downstream of the locationof the electromagnet assembly 60. The branch path 65 includes aconventional flexible endless belt 65' trained around a conventionalguide roller 65" at its upstream end adjacent the belt 58' and istrained around a conventional drive assembly (not shown) for drivingoperation of the endless belt. An edge portion 67 formed on the guideplate 63 extends along one side of the endless belt 65' for guidingengagement of the annular base portion of the tube support memberstraveling along the transport path 65. A sensor 61 is positionedadjacent the electromagnet assembly 59 and is operatively connected viaa conventional connector (not shown) to the electromagnet assembly 59.

The tube support members are transported along the branch path 58 on thebelt 58' and are guided along predetermined lateral orientationsrelative to the endless belt 58' by the edge portions 56, 57. The guideplates 62, 63 extend toward one another beyond their respective edgeportions 56, 57 such that a portion of the annular base portion of eachtube support member guided therealong is beneath the guide plates 62,63. This configuration advantageously prevents tipping of the tubesupport members during their transport. As the tube support membersapproach the electromagnet assembly 59, the edge portions 56, 57 guidethe tube support members into increasingly laterally offset positionsrelative to the belt 58' toward the lateral side of the belt on whichthe electromagnet assembly 59 is positioned. The annular component 73 ofthe electromagnet assembly 59, which is magnetically activated under thecontrol of a control unit (not shown), magnetically engages theferromagnetic component of the approaching tube support member, which isstill partially supported on the endless belt 58'. The continuedoperation of the belt 58' moves the respective engaged tube supportmember further downstream while its ferromagnetic component is engagedby the annular component 73.

The sensor 61 senses the travel therepast of the engaged tube supportmember and signals the control unit, which responds to the receipt ofthe signal by energizing the annular component 75 of the electromagnetassembly 60. The engaged tube support member continues to movedownstream relative to the direction of the belt 58' due to theoperation of the belt and the engaged tube support member rotatesslightly due to the engagement of its annular base portion by theannular component 73 of the first electromagnet assembly 59. Eventually,the annular base portion of the engaged tube support member ismagnetically engaged by the annular component 75 of the secondelectromagnet assembly 60 at a circumferentially spaced location fromthe engagement thereof by the first electromagnet assembly 59. With boththe electromagnet assemblies 59, 60 energized, the engaged tube supportmember is supported in a stationary position relative to the belt 58'. Aconventional sensor 141 is disposed for sensing the yarn package 14supported on a tube support member retained at this stationary location.The sensor 141 is connected via a conventional connector (not shown) tothe control unit and transmits a signal thereto corresponding, forexample, to the sensed condition of the yarn on the supported yarnpackage 14 or, for example, corresponding to the sensed batchidentification means on the tube 15 on which the yarn package 14 isbuilt.

In correspondence with the sensing signal received from the sensor 141,the control unit selectively controls the magnetic energization of theelectromagnet assemblies 59, 60 to effect guiding of the engaged tubesupport member in a manner in which the tube support member continues totravel along the direction of travel of the belt 58' past the junctionwith the transport past 65 or in a manner in which the tube supportmember is guided from the transport path 58 onto the transport path 65.If the engaged tube support member is to continue traveling along thebelt 58', the control unit magnetically de-energizes the electromagneticassemblies 59, 60 to permit the continuous operation of the belt 58' todisplace the engaged tube support member from its stationary locationfor further downstream transport by the belt.

In the event that the engaged tube support member is to be guided fromthe transport path 58 onto the branch path 65, the control unitmagnetically de-energizes the first electromagnetic assembly 59 whilethe second electromagnetic assembly 60 continues to be magneticallyenergized. The continuing operation of the belt 58' causes the tubesupport member to rotate relative to its axis while it is moved furtherdownstream by the belt and the annular base portion of the tube supportmember remains magnetically engaged by the annular component 75 of thesecond electromagnet assembly 60 and rolls therealong. The upstream endof the branch belt 65' then engages the bottom portion of the tubesupport member which extends laterally beyond one side of the belt 58'and cooperates with the continuing magnetic engagement of the tubesupport member by the second electromagnet assembly 60 to guide the tubesupport member from the transport path 58 onto the transport path 65after which the second electromagnet assembly 60 is de-energized topermit the tube support member to travel along the branch path 65. Incorrespondence with the guidance of the tube support member onto thebranch transport path 65, the control unit again magnetically energizesthe first electromagnet assembly 59 to magnetically engage the nextfollowing tube support member to begin the next cycle of positioning atube support member for sensing at the stationary location.

The additional aspect of the tube transport assembly illustrated in FIG.5 provides the capability to individually stop, sense and guide the tubesupport members. Since all of the rotating parts of the guiding meansare displaced from the travel path of the tube support members, the riskthat a stray yarn end will be snagged by the guiding means is minimized.

In FIG. 6, another aspect of the modified tube transport assembly ofFIG. 5 is illustrated in which a selected portion of the predeterminedtravel path along which the tube support members 13 travel such as, forexample, a portion of the main supply path 3, can be provided with alocation at which the tube support members 13 are individuallysequentially temporarily retained for a purpose such as, for example,sensing of the tube 15 or the yarn package 14 supported on therespective retained tube support member. In this configuration, theguide plates 62, 63 include contoured edge portions 56, 57,respectively, for guiding the tube support members laterally withrespect to the endless belt 58' which transports the tube support member13 along the transport path 58. The first electromagnet assembly 59 ispositioned adjacent the travel path of the tube support members 13 at alocation at which the tube support members have been moved partiallylaterally beyond a lateral side of the belt 58'.

A sensor 61' is disposed adjacent the travel path of the tube supportmembers 13 upstream of the first electromagnet assembly 59 and isoperatively connected to the control means (not shown) which selectivelymagnetically activates the first electromagnet assembly 59. Acooperating member in the form of an annularly shaped stop component 64is positioned downstream of the first electromagnet assembly 59 at aspacing from the first electromagnet assembly less than the diameter ofa tube support member 13.

The first electromagnet assembly 59 and the stop component 64 areoperable to engage the annular base portion of a tube support member 13at circumferentially spaced locations thereon to temporarily retain theengaged tube support member at a retaining location for sensing by asensor (not shown) or other handling of the tube 15 or the yarn package14 supported on the retained tube support member. As seen in FIG. 9, thefirst electromagnet assembly 59 includes a housing 76 supported on apost member 68. The post member 68 can be in the form, for example, of aconventional bolt and nut assembly for fixedly securing the firstelectromagnet assembly 59 to the frame 72 of the textile machine. A coil69 is disposed within the housing 76 coaxial to the post member 68 andis spaced from the top inner surface of the housing 76 by a spacermember 71. The coil 69 is mounted on an iron core 70 which is coaxiallyfixedly mounted to the post member 68. The iron core 70 includes aninclined annular surface 73 which is inclined radially inwardly in thedirection from the bottom toward the top of the post member 68. Thehousing member 76 includes a flange 63 positioned for overlappinglyretaining the annular base portion of the tube support member.

The first electromagnet assembly 59 additionally includes a supportplate 63' extending laterally outwardly from the iron core 70 toward thebelt 58' under and supporting a tube support member 13" magneticallyengaged by the first electromagnet assembly 59 at a predeterminedvertical orientation in which the inclined annular ferromagneticcomponent 34" of the engaged tube support member is in substantialsurface to surface contact with the inclined annular surface 73 of theiron core 70.

The first electromagnet assembly 59 is configured to magneticallyinteract with tube support members 13" of the type illustrated in FIG.9. These tube support members 13" include an annular ferromagneticcomponent 34" at the circumference of their bottoms tapering radiallyinwardly toward at an inclination corresponding to the inclination ofthe inclined annular surface 73 of the first electromagnet assembly 59.

In operation, the belt 58' transports the tube support members 13 alongthe transport path 58 and the edge portions 56, 57 guide each oncomingtube support member 13 in increasingly laterally offset directionsrelative to the belt 58' in the vicinity of the sensor 61'. The sensor61' senses the presence of an oncoming tube support member 13 andsignals the control unit which magnetically activates the firstelectromagnet assembly 59 in response to the sensing by the sensor 61'.As the sensed tube support member 13 travels downstream relative to thesensor 61', it is magnetically engaged by the first electromagnetassembly 59 through the magnetic interaction between the iron core 70and the ferromagnetic component 34' of the tube support member 13".

The first electromagnet assembly 59 magnetically interacts with theferromagnetic component of the oncoming tube support member 13 tothereby engage the tube support member in opposition to the frictionalengagement of the tube support member by the continuously moving belt58'.

Once engaged by the iron core 70 of the first electromagnet assembly 59,the engaged tube support member translationally rotates as the annularinclined ferromagnetic component 34" remains in surface to surfacecontact with the annular inclined surface 73 of the iron core 70 whilethe retained tube support member is advanced further downstream underthe action of the belt 58'. After a relatively small amount ofdownstream travel of the tube support member after its magneticengagement by the first electromagnet assembly 59, the tube supportmember moves into engagement with the stop component 64 and no furtherdownstream travel of the tube support member occurs despite thecontinuing operation of the belt 58'. The tube support member is thustemporarily retained by the cooperating operation of the firstelectromagnet assembly 59 and the stop component 64 so that, forexample, a sensor (not shown) can be positioned for sensing the tube 15or the yarn package 14 supported on the retained tube support member.After sensing of the supported tube 15 or the yarn package 14, the firstelectromagnet assembly 59 can be magnetically deactivated to permit thebelt 58' to further advance the now-released tube support member 13laterally around the stop component 64 and downstream along thetransport path 58. A guide plate 66 can be provided extending from alocation adjacent the stop component 64 and extending upstream therefromrelative to the direction of travel of the tube support members 13 forguiding the released tube support members 13 laterally inwardly onto thebelt 58' into fully supported positions thereon for optimum transport ofthe tube support members by the belt 58'.

The present invention contemplates that the sensor 61 illustrated inFIG. 5 and the sensor 61' illustrated in FIG. 6 can be in the form, forexample, of conventional inductively activated sensors configured toinductively sense the ferromagnetic components of the tube supportmembers 13.

The modified tube transport assembly illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6advantageously guides the tube support members without exposing the yarnpackages supported thereon to moving components which coulddetrimentally snag stray yarn ends or the like on the yarn packages.Additionally, the modified tube transport assembly reliably and smoothlytransfers the tube support members from one transport path to anothertransport path at a junction between two transport paths.

In FIGS. 10-15, features of the tube transport assembly of the presentinvention are illustrated which provide the capability to verticallytransport the tube support members 13 between spaced vertical positions,thereby utilizing a minimum of floor space. One version of this featureis illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. The tube support members, which areof the type of tube support members 13" illustrated in FIG. 9 havingannular inclined ferromagnetic components 34", are horizontallytransported by a lower horizontal transport component having aconventional flexible endless member or belt 78 trained around a guideroller 80 at its downstream end and around a conventional drive roller(not shown) operatively connected to a conventional drive motor (notshown) for driving operation of the belt 78. The tube support membersare transferred from the lower horizontal transport component to avertical transport component 84 having carrier members and carriermember conveying means for conveying the tube support members betweenvertically spaced locations.

The lower horizontal transport component includes means for incliningthe lateral orientation of the belt 78 for corresponding inclinedorientation of the tube support members at its downstream end. Thelateral orientation inclining means includes a pair of guide rollers 79,each disposed upstream of the guide roller 80 for supporting arespective one of the upper and lower runs of the belt 78 and a belttwist stop member 81 positioned adjacent the rollers 79 above the upperrun of the belt 78 and a means (not shown) for supporting the guideroller 80 with its axis at an inclination with respect to thehorizontal. The belt twist stop member 81 is sufficiently spaced fromthe upper run of the belt 78 to permit passage therebetween of the tubesupport member 13" through frictional engagement of the tube supportmembers by the belt 78 yet is positioned sufficiently close to the upperrun of the belt 78 to exert a slight pressure through the tube supportmembers 13" on the belt 78 to prevent twisting of the belt from ahorizontal disposition upstream beyond the belt twist stop member.

As best seen in FIG. 11, the axis of the guide roller 80 is supported atan inclination such that the annular inclined ferromagnetic components34" of each tube support member 13" arriving at the downstream end ofthe belt 78 is oriented in a generally vertical transfer orientation forengagement by a carrier member for vertical movement of the engaged tubesupport member 13". The lower horizontal transport componentadditionally includes a transfer support member 82 for supporting theexposed upper end of each supported tube 15 during tilting of the tubesupport member 13" supporting the respective tube at the downstream endof the belt 78. The transfer support member 82 includes a contoured railfor supporting the exposed tube ends during the increasing tilting ofthe tube as the respective tube support member 13" travels toward thedownstream transfer location. Additionally, the horizontal transportcomponent includes a second transfer support member 83 for laterallyorienting the tube support members 13" at the downstream end of the belt78 and for preventing further downstream travel of the tube supportmembers beyond a downstream transfer location at which the tube supportmembers are magnetically engaged by carrier members for verticalmovement of the tube support members.

The carrier members for magnetically engaging the tube support members13 during their vertical transport are uniformly spaced on a carriermember conveying means which can be in the form, for example, of aconventional flexible endless member or belt 84' trained around a lowerguide roller 88 and an upper drive roller 89, which is operativelyconnected to a conventional drive motor (not shown) for drivingoperation of the belt 84'. Each carrier member includes magnetic meansoperable to magnetically interact with the ferromagnetic components ofthe tube support members 13" delivered by the lower horizontal transportcomponent to the downstream transfer location for supporting the tubesupport members for conveyance thereof between the downstream transferlocation and an upstream transfer location vertically spaced from thedownstream transfer location. The carrier member magnetic means includesa first permanent magnet 85 forming an initial tube support membercontact surface compatibly configured with the ferromagnetic componentof the tube support members 13" for surface to surface contact therewithand a second permanent magnet 86 forming a generally planar,supplementary magnetic surface for surface to surface contact with theferromagnetic components of the tube support members 13" at acircumferentially spaced location from the portion of the ferromagneticcomponent in surface to surface contact with the magnetic contactsurface of the first permanent magnet 85. The first permanent magnet 85and the second permanent magnet 86 are permanent in the sense that eachis continuously magnetically active. The permanent magnets 85, 86 ofeach carrier member are spaced from one another along the endless extentof the belt 84' by a spacing corresponding to the diameter of a tubesupport member 13" with the spacing being generally the same as thenon-magnetic space across the bottom of the tube support members betweenthe inner extremities of the ferromagnetic components. The initialcontact surface of the permanent magnets are spaced from the belt 84'and lie in common vertical planes during the upwardly moving anddownwardly moving runs of the belt 84'. The initial contact surface ofthe first permanent magnet 85 preferably has an area at least twice asgreat as the area of the supplementary magnetic surface formed by thesecond permanent magnet 86. A pair of transfer guiding plates 87 aremounted to the frame of the textile machine and extend parallel to thecommon vertical plane in which the surfaces of the permanent magnets 85,86 are disposed and offset laterally outwardly therefrom in a directionaway from the belt 84' at a spacing from the common vertical planegenerally corresponding to the axial extent of the annular base portionof a tube support member 13". The transfer guide plates 87 are spacedfrom one another by an amount sufficient to permit the passagetherebetween of a tube 15 and/or a yarn package 14 supported on a tubesupport member 14" being transported by one of the carrier members. Theguide plates 87 insure that the tube support members 13" are reliablymounted in stable surface to surface contact with the surfaces of thepermanent magnets 85, 86 of each carrier member following the transferof the respective tube support member 13' to the respective carriermember at the downstream transfer location. The vertical transportcomponent 84 additionally includes a pair of arcuately shaped guideplates 90 disposed in the same vertical plane as the transfer guideplates 87 and mounted to the textile machine at a spacing from oneanother at the location at which the belt 84' is trained around thedrive roller 89. The pair of guide plates 90 are spaced from one anotherby an amount sufficient to permit passage therebetween of a tube 15and/or a yarn package 14 supported on a tube support member 13" beingcarried by a carrier member. The guide plates 90 insure that the tubesupport members 13" being carried by the carrier members remain stabilymounted on the permanent magnets 85, 86 of the carrier members as thecarrier members travel along the semi-circular travel path at the top ofthe upwardly moving run of the belt 84'.

The vertical transport component 84 further includes an upper horizontaltransport component for receiving tube support members 13" at thevertical upstream transfer location and transporting the tube supportmembers along a horizontal transport path extending at a higherelevation than the horizontal path of the lower horizontal transportcomponent. The upper horizontal transport component includes an endlessmember or belt assembly having a flexible endless belt 91 trained arounda guide roller 92 and a conventional guide roller (not shown), which isoperatively connected to a conventional drive motor (not shown) fordriving operation of the belt 91. The upper horizontal transportcomponent additionally includes means for inclining the lateralorientation of the belt 91 transversely to its endless extent from ahorizontal orientation to an inclined orientation at the upstreamtransfer location for receiving inclined tube support members 13'transferred thereto from the carrier members.

The lateral orientation inclining means includes a pair of belt rollers97, each positioned for supporting the bottom of a respective one of theupper and lower runs of the belt 91 at a common location downstream ofthe upstream transfer location, a belt twist block member 95 positionedat the location of the belt rollers 97 and mounting means (not shown)for mounting the guide roller 92 to the frame of the textile machinewith the axis of the guide roller inclined relative to the horizontal.The belt twist stop member 95 is spaced from the upper run of the belt91 by a spacing sufficient to permit passage therebetween of the annularbase portion of a tube support member 13" yet sufficiently closelyadjacent the belt 91 to apply a downward pressure through the annularbase portion of the tube support member 13" passing therebetween to thebelt 91, which is supported at the pressure receiving location by one ofthe belt rollers 97.

The upper horizontal transport component further includes a means forinterrupting the magnetic interaction between the permanent magnets 85,86 of each carrier member and the ferromagnetic component of a tubesupport member 13" supported on the respective carrier member at theupstream transfer location to effect release of the tube support member13" from the respective carrier member onto the belt 91. The magneticinterrupting means includes a pair of tapered members 93 positioned onrespective opposite lateral sides of the belt 84' and tapering outwardlytherefrom. The tapered members 93 are laterally spaced from one anotherby an amount sufficient to permit passage therebetween of the carriermembers and less than the extent of a tube support member 13". Thetapered wedge members 93 are positioned intermediate the guide plates 90and the upper run of the belt 91 at the vertical upstream transferlocation adjacent to the top of the downward run of the belt 84'. Thus,the tapered members engage the passing tube support members and causethem to move outwardly from the respective supporting carrier members tointerrupt the magnetic interaction and thereby effect release of thetube support members at an inclination for sliding onto the belt 91 ofthe upper horizontal transport component.

The upper horizontal transport component additionally includes an uppertransfer support means having a contoured rail 94 mounted to the frameof the textile machine at the upstream transfer location and contouredfor continuously supporting an exposed upper end of a tube 15 supportedon a tube support member 13" being transferred onto the belt 91 duringinclining of the tube in correspondence with the movement of therespective tube support member 13" from an inclined transfer orientationto a horizontal orientation. Additionally, a lateral guide rail 96 ismounted to the frame of the textile machine and extends along the upperrun of the belt 91 at the upstream transfer location for laterallyorienting tube support members 13" supported on the belt 91.

The contact initial tube support member surface of the first permanentmagnet of an oncoming carrier member initially contacts the generallyvertically oriented uppermost portion of the ferromagnetic component 34"and magnetically engages the ferromagnetic component to effect movementof the engaged tube support member 13" with a carrier member as thecarrier member travels upwardly beyond the downstream transfer locationalong the upwardly moving run of the belt 84'. As the lowermost portionof the annular ferromagnetic component 34' of the engaged tube supportmember clears the belt 78, the tube support member pivots under itsweight relative to the initial contact surface of the first permanentmagnet 85 while remaining magnetically engaged therewith and thelowermost portion of the annular ferromagnetic component 34' swings intosurface to surface contact with the supplementary magnetic surface ofthe second magnet 86. Immediately thereafter, the engaged tube supportmember 13", which is now magnetically engaged by both of the permanentmagnets 85, 86 of the respective carrier member at circumferentiallyspaced locations, travels along the inner surfaces of the transfer guideplates 87, which apply a relatively slight pressure to the top surfaceof the annular base portion of the tube support member to insure thatthe tube support member is stabily magnetically engaged by the permanentmagnets 85,86.

The carrier members are spaced from one another relative to the endlessextent of the belt 84' at a uniform spacing sufficient to insure thatthe tube support member 13" most recently engaged by a carrier memberhas been transferred sufficiently beyond the downstream transferlocation to avoid interference with the next following tube supportmember 13" being loaded onto the next following carrier member at thedownstream transfer location. The engaged tube support members 13" aretransported along the guide plates 90 as the belt 84 travels in asemi-circular path from its upwardly moving run to its downwardly movingrun and the guide plates 90 insure that the engaged tube support members13" remain stabily magnetically engaged by the carrier members duringthis travel. As each engaged tube support member 13" travels beyond theguide plates 90, the respective carrier member passes between thetapered members 93 which engage the bottom surface of the engaged tubesupport member and move the tube support member progressively laterallyoutwardly out of magnetic engagement with the permanent magnets 85, 86of the carrier member as the carrier member travels between the taperedmembers 93. As seen in FIG. 11, the now-disengaged tube support memberis oriented at a transfer inclination by the tapered members 93 parallelto the inclination of the belt 91 of the upper horizontal transport runcomponent at the upstream location. Accordingly, the tube support memberslides along the tapered members 93 onto the upstream end of the belt 91and its lowermost portion is engaged by the lateral orientation member96 to laterally orient the tube support member as the belt 91 begins totransport the tube support member. The contoured rail 94 guides theexposed upper end of the tube supported on the tube support member asthe tube support member moves during its change of orientation from theinclined transfer orientation to a horizontal orientation. The tubesupport member passes between a belt twist stop member 95 and the beltroller 97 while supported on the belt 91 and travels thereafter in ahorizontal orientation on the belt 91 toward a further handlinglocation.

The relatively large surface area of the initial contact surface of thefirst permanent magnet 85 of each carrier member insures that the tubesupport members 13" are reliably initially magnetically engaged by thecarrier members. Although the first permanent magnet 85 of each carriermember is initially the only magnet of the carrier member which bearsthe load of the tube support member being transferred thereto, thecontoured configuration of the contour rail 82 insures that the firstpermanent magnet 85 does not bear the entire weight of the engaged tubesupport member prior to the engagement of the tube support member by thesecond permanent magnet 86. The exposed upper end of the tube 15 on theengaged tube support member 13" remains in guided engagement with thecontoured rail 82 until the annular base portion of the tube supportmember has swung into engagement with the supplementary magnetic surfaceof the second permanent magnet 86.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate one modification of the tube transportassembly shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. A vertical transport component 98includes a flexible endless member or belt 98' trained around a guideroller 99 at a downstream transfer location, a pair of delivery runguide rollers 100, 101, a drive roller 102 and a pair of return runrollers 103, 104. The drive roller 102 is operatively connected to aconventional drive motor 98" for driving operation of the belt 98'. Thevertical transport component 98 includes a plurality of carrier memberssecured to the belt 98' at uniform spacings therealong and eachincluding a pair of permanent magnets 105, 106 which operate similarlyto the permanent magnets 85, 86 of the carrier members described withrespect to FIGS. 10 and 11 for magnetically engaging tube supportmembers for transport by the vertical transport component 98. A deliveryhorizontal transport component identical in structure and operation tothe lower horizontal transport component shown in FIGS. 10 and 11,transports tube support members in a delivery direction indicated by anarrow 107 to a downstream transfer location for engagement of the tubesupport members by the carrier members mounted on the belt 98'. Adischarge transport component, identical in structure and operation tothe upper horizontal transport component shown in FIGS. 10 and 11,receives tube support members from the carrier members at an upstreamtransfer location and transports these tube support members in adischarge direction indicated by an arrow 108 to a further handlinglocation. The delivery path of the belt 98' along which the tube supportmembers 13" are carried by the carrier members initially extendsvertically from the downstream transfer location, then along a generallyhorizontal extent between the delivery run guide rollers 100, 101, andtherefrom it extends vertically downwardly to the upstream transferlocation. The belt 98' follows the return path which extends initiallyvertically upwardly from the upstream transfer location, along agenerally horizontal extent between the return run guide rollers 103,104 and along a vertically downwardly moving extent to the downstreamtransfer location. The vertical transport component 98 therefore definesa passageway for service personnel or service devices to passthereunder.

As seen in FIG. 13, the permanent magnets 105, 106 of each carriermember engage the inclined annular ferromagnetic component of each tubesupport member 13" at diametrically opposed circumferential locationsthereon. The permanent magnets 105, 106 are each secured to the belt 98'by a threaded bolt 109, 110, respectively. The tube support members 13"can be configured to transport various types of tubes such as, forexample, a tube 111 of reduced diameter relative to the standard yarnpackage tubes 15.

Another version of the tube transport assembly which includes a verticaltransport component 118 is illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15. The tubesupport members, which are of the type of tube support members 13"illustrated in FIG. 9 having annular inclined ferromagnetic components34", are horizontally transported by a lower horizontal transportcomponent having the same arrangement and operation of a belt 112, guideroller 117, drive roller, inclining guide rollers 113, belt twist stopmember 114, transfer support member 115, and second transfer supportrail 116 as described above in relation to the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 10 and 11.

The vertical transport component 118 transports carrier members forengaging and carrying tube support members between vertically spacedlocations. This vertical transport component has the same arrangementand operation of a belt 118', lower guide roller 123, and upper driveroller as described above in relation to the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 10 and 11.

An upper transport component extends from the vertical transportcomponent to receive and transport therefrom the support members. Thisupper transport component has the same arrangement and operation of abelt 126, guide roller, a drive roller, a pair of inclining belt rollers127, a belt twist block member 130, a pair of tapered members 125,contoured rail 129, lateral guide rail 128 as described above inrelation to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.

As seen in FIG. 15, each of the carrier members 119 includes a magnet120 forming an initial tube support member engaging surface 120' and agenerally planar, supplementary magnetic surface 120". Additionally,each carrier member 119 includes a pair of generally planar,supplementary magnetic surfaces 121 disposed in the same plane as thesupplementary magnetic surface 120". The magnetic surfaces of eachcarrier member 119 are supported by a bracket which is fixedly connectedby conventional securement means such as, for example, a nut and boltassembly, to the belt 118'.

The three supplementary magnetic surfaces of each carrier member 119,which includes the surface 120" and the pair of surfaces 121, aresupported by the bracket 119 in positions for surface to surface contactwith the annular ferromagnetic component 34" of a tube support member13" at circumferentially spaced locations thereon. The supplementarymagnetic surface 120" is supported by the bracket relative to the belt118' such that the magnetic surface is aligned with the endless extentof the belt 118' in its upwardly moving run in which it initiallyengages the tube support members 13".

The initial tube support member engaging surface 120' is supported bythe bracket of the respective carrier member 119 in alignment with theendless extent of the belt 118' in its upwardly moving run.Additionally, the initial engaging surface 120' is arcuately concavelyshaped in a direction transverse to the lateral and endless extents ofthe belt 118 and is arcuately shaped in a direction transverse to theendless extent of the belt 118'. The arcuate shape of the initialengaging surface 120' is compatibly configured with the verticallyuppermost portion of the annular ferromagnetic component 34" of a tubesupport member 13" supported at the downstream transfer location at theinclined transfer orientation. In this transfer orientation, the portionof the annular ferromagnetic component 34" lying on a radius of theannular base portion of the respective tube support member 13" whichextends parallel to the extent of the upwardly moving run of the belt118 is directly vertical and is engaged by the portion of the initialengaging surface 120' lying on the radial midpoint of the contactmagnetic surface. The initial engaging surface 120' is disposedoutwardly from the common plane in which the supplementary magneticsurfaces 121, 120" are disposed in a direction transverse to the lateraland endless extents of the belt 118'.

The carrier members 119 operate as follows to magnetically engage thetube support members 13" supported at the downstream transfer location.As each carrier member 119 is moved upwardly by the belt 118 duringtravel of the belt between the guide roller 123 and the downstreamtransfer location, the initial engaging surface 120' of the carriermember is the vertically uppermost portion of the carrier member. Theinitial engaging surface 120' is moved by the belt 118' adjacent theannular ferromagnetic component 34" of the tube support member at thedownstream transfer location, which is supported by the belt 112 at aninclination such that the vertically uppermost portion of the annularferromagnetic component 34" is vertically disposed parallel to the belt118' along its upwardly moving run. The initial engaging surface 120'magnetically engages the vertically uppermost portion of the annularferromagnetic component 34" to cause sliding of the tube support memberat the downstream transfer location laterally along the belt 112 as thecarrier member 119 continues to move upwardly. When the verticallylowermost portion of the annular base portion of the tube support memberhas cleared the belt 112, the tube support member, which is stillmagnetically engaged by the initial engaging surface 120', pivots by itsweight relative to the initial engaging surface to bring the bottomannular surface of the ferromagnetic component 34" into surface tosurface contact with the supplementary magnetic surfaces 121, 120". Thegravitationally induced pivoting of the tube support member relative tothe initial engaging surface 120' is sufficient to interrupt themagnetic interaction between the annular ferromagnetic component 34" andthe initial engaging surface 120' so that the annular ferromagneticcomponent 34", once its annular bottom surface has moved into surface tosurface magnetic contact with the supplementary magnetic surfaces 121,120", it is no longer in surface to surface contact with the initialengaging surface 120'.

The engaged tube support member 13" is thereafter supported in avertical disposition by the supplementary magnetic surfaces 121, 120" ofthe respective carrier member 119 with the respective yarn package 14supported by the tube support member extending generally horizontallytherefrom.

FIGS. 16-18 illustrate a modification of the magnetic arrangement of thepresent invention. In this modification a plurality of individualcarrier members 131 are disposed at uniform spacings along an endlessbelt for individually supporting the tube support members 13" on thebelt 134 for transport thereby. As best seen in FIG. 17, each individualcarrier member 131 includes four radially extending arm members radiallyextending from a common mounting bracket 135 and spaced 90° apart. Asseen in FIG. 16, the mounting bracket 135 is secured to the belt 134 byconventional securement means such as, for example, a pair of bolts 136threadingly received in threaded holes formed in the belt 134. The fourarm members of each individual carrier member 131 are oriented relativeto the endless extent of the belt 134 such that the belt bisects theangle formed between the arm members of a leading pair of the armmembers and between the arm members of a trailing pair. The outer freeends of the leading pair of arm members each support a magneticcomponent 132, 133, respectively. The outer free ends of the trailingpair of arm members each support a magnetic component 137, 138,respectively. Each magnetic component 132, 133 of the leading armmembers includes a planar horizontal surface 132", 133", respectively,and an inclined, arcuately shaped magnetic surface 132', 133',respectively. Each of the arcuately shaped magnetic surfaces 132', 133'are compatibly configured with the curvature of the inclined surfaceportion of the annular ferromagnetic component 34" of a tube supportmember 13" for surface to surface magnetic engagement therewith.Additionally, the planar horizontal magnetic surfaces 132", 133" aresupported by their respective arm members for engaging the bottomcircumferential portion of the annular ferromagnetic component 34" atrespective circumferentially spaced locations thereon.

Each of the magnetic components 137, 138 of the trailing arm membersinclude a planar horizontal surface disposed in positions for engagingthe bottom circumferential surface of the annular ferromagneticcomponent 34" at respective circumferentially spaced locations thereon.

FIG. 18 illustrates a possible configuration of each of the magneticcomponents 137, 138 in which the magnetic component includes a firsthalf portion 139 and a second half portion 140, each half portion beingof opposite magnetic polarity.

In operation, the tube support members 13" are disposed by conventionaltransfer means (not shown) onto the individual carrier members 131 in amanner in which the inclined portion of the annular ferromagneticcomponent 34" of the tube support member is disposed in surface tosurface contact with the curved magnetic surfaces 132', 133'. Thissurface to surface magnetic contact necessarily insures that the bottomcircumferential surface of the annular ferromagnetic component 34" isalso in surface to surface magnetic contact with the respectivehorizontal surfaces of the magnetic components 132, 133, 137 and 138.Each tube support member 13" is therefore securely magnetically engagedby the respective individual carrier member 131 on which it is disposedfor reliable transport by the belt 134. The opposite magnetic polarityconfiguration of the magnetic components illustrated in FIG. 18advantageously strengthens the magnetic interaction between the magneticcomponent and the annular ferromagnetic component 34" of the tubesupport member since the path of magnetic alignment extends from one ofthe half portions 139,140 through the annular ferromagnetic component tothe other half portions 139, 140.

It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in theart that the present invention is susceptible of a broad utility andapplication. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present inventionother than those herein described, as well as many variations,modifications and equivalent arrangements will be apparent from orreasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoingdescription thereof, without departing from the substance or scope ofthe present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has beendescribed herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, itis to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative andexemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes ofproviding a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoingdisclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the presentinvention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments,adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, thepresent invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto andthe equivalents thereof.

We claim:
 1. An assembly for transporting tubes in association with atextile machine, the tubes being of the type on which yarn is wound,comprising:a plurality of tube support members for supporting tubes fortransport along a predetermined travel path, said tube support membersindividually including a common selected one of a magnetic means and aferromagnetic component; and means for selectively diverting tubesupport members from said predetermined travel path, said selectivelydiverting means including the other of said magnetic means and saidferromagnetic component, said magnetic means and said ferromagneticcomponent magnetically interacting with one another, sensing means forsensing a characteristic of a tube support member or a tube supported ona tube support member and means for selectively varying the magneticinteraction between said magnetic means and said ferromagnetic componentto selectively divert tube support members from said predeterminedtravel path in response to the sensing by said sensing means of thepresence or absence of said characteristic of the respective tubesupport members to be diverted.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1 andcharacterized further in that said tube support members include saidferromagnetic component and said means for selectively diverting tubesupport members includes said magnetic means.
 3. The assembly accordingto claim 2 and characterized further in that said magnetic meansincludes an electromagnet configured to be magnetically activated incorrespondence with the flow of electricity thereto.
 4. The assemblyaccording to claim 2 and characterized further in that said magneticmeans includes a plurality of electromagnets disposed relative to atleast a selected portion of said predetermined travel path for magneticinteraction with said ferromagnetic components of said tube supportmembers to guide said tube support members along said selected portionof said predetermined travel path and means for controlling the magneticactivation of said electromagnets to sequentially magnetically activatesaid electromagnets in the direction of advancement of said tube supportmembers along said selected portion of said predetermined travel path toeffect sequential individual magnetic interaction of said electromagnetswith said ferromagnetic components of said tube support members.
 5. Theassembly according to claim 4 and characterized further in that saidelectromagnets are disposed on a common lateral side of saidpredetermined travel path, said tube support members have annularperipheries adjacent said electromagnets with said ferromagneticcomponents disposed around said peripheries, and said control meanscyclically activates said electromagnets to effect translationalrotation of said tube support members along said selected portion ofsaid predetermined travel path.
 6. The assembly according to claim 2 andcharacterized further by guiding means including an endless memberassembly having an endless member and means for driving said endlessmember, said endless member fictionally engaging said tube supportmembers to advance said tube support members along said predeterminedtravel path in correspondence with the driving operation of said endlessmember and said means for selectively diverting tube support membersoperates said magnetic means to magnetically interact with saidferromagnetic components of said tube support members to oppose saidfrictional engagement of said tube support members by said endlessmember.
 7. The assembly according to claim 2 and characterized furtherin that said predetermined travel path includes at least one junctionfrom which said predetermined travel path extends in at least twodifferent directions and said means for selectively diverting tubesupport members is selectively operable to operate said magnetic meansfor guiding of said tube support members along a selected one of saiddirections of said predetermined travel path extending from saidjunction.
 8. The assembly according to claim 6 and characterized furtherin that said magnetic means includes a pair of magnets, each said magnetbeing selectively operable to magnetically interact with saidferromagnetic components of said tube support members at a locationalong said predetermined travel path spaced from the location along saidpredetermined travel path at which the other said magnet magneticallyinteracts with said tube support members.
 9. The assembly according toclaim 8 and characterized further in that said tube support members haveannular peripheries with said ferromagnetic components disposed aroundsaid peripheries and said magnets are spaced from one another relativeto said predetermined travel path by at least the diameter of theannular periphery of a tube support member.
 10. The assembly accordingto claim 6 and characterized further in that said tube support membershave annular peripheries with said ferromagnetic components disposedaround said peripheries, said magnetic means includes a first magnetselectively operable to magnetically interact with said ferromagneticcomponents of said tube support members and said guiding means includesa cooperating member spaced from said first magnet at a spacing lessthan the diameter of the annular periphery of a tube support member,said first magnet and said cooperating member cooperating to engage atube support member at circumferentially spaced locations thereon torespectively retain said engaged tube support member at a predeterminedlocation along said predetermined travel path.
 11. The assemblyaccording to claim 10 and characterized further in that said firstmagnet is annularly shaped.
 12. The assembly according to claim 11 andcharacterized further in that said cooperating member is a secondmagnet, said second magnet being annularly shaped.
 13. The assemblyaccording to claim 12 and characterized further in that saidpredetermined travel path includes a junction from which saidpredetermined travel path branches in at least two different directionsand said second magnet is selectively magnetically activatable at aposition adjacent said junction for guiding of tube support membersthrough said junction onto a selected branch of said predeterminedtravel path through translational rotation of said tube support membersabout the circumference of said second magnet.
 14. The assemblyaccording to claim 12 and characterized further in that said guidingmeans includes means for sensing the presence of a tube support memberat a predetermined sensing location relative to said predeterminedretaining location, said sensing means being operatively connected tosaid means for selectively varying the magnetic interaction and saidmeans for selectively varying the magnetic interaction operating saidsecond magnet for magnetic interaction with the ferromagnetic componentof a sensed tube support member in response to sensing by sensing meansof the respective tube support member.
 15. The assembly according toclaim 14 and characterized further in that said means for selectivelydiverting tube support members selectively operates said first andsecond magnets out of magnetic interaction with the ferromagneticcomponent of a tube support member engaged by said magnets to permitguiding of said tube support member by said guiding means along apredetermined one of said predetermined travel path branches.
 16. Theassembly according to claim 14 and characterized further in that saidmeans for selectively diverting tube support members operates said firstmagnetic out of magnetic interaction with the ferromagnetic component ofa tube support member engaged by said first and second magnets aresimultaneously operates said second magnet for magnetic interaction withthe ferromagnetic component of said tube support member to effectguiding of said tube support member through said junction to a selectedone of said predetermined travel path branches.
 17. The assemblyaccording to claim 16 and characterized further in that said means forselectively diverting tube support members operates said first magneticfor magnetic interaction with the ferromagnetic component of a tubesupport member which follows said tube support member in correspondencewith the guiding of tube support member by said second magnetic to saidselected one of said predetermined travel path branches to control thetravel of tube support members along said travel path.
 18. The assemblyaccording to claim 12 and characterized further in that said first andsecond magnets have opposite magnetic polarity when they are operated bysaid means for selectively diverting tube support members for magneticinteraction with said ferromagnetic components of said tube supportmembers.
 19. The assembly according to claim 12 and characterizedfurther in that said guiding means includes a sensor, operativelyconnected to said means for selectively diverting tube support members,for sensing a selected characteristic of a selected one of a tubesupport member retained at said predetermined retaining location, a tubesupported on said retaining tube support member and a yarn package builton said tube, said means for selectively diverting tube support membersselectively operating said first and second magnets in response tosensing by said sensor of said selected characteristic to selectivelyguide said retained tube support member to a selected one of saidpredetermined travel path branches in accordance with said sensedcharacteristic.
 20. An assembly for transporting tubes in associationwith a textile machine, the tubes being of the type on which yarn iswound, comprising:a plurality of tube support members for supportingtubes for transport along a predetermined travel path having a junctionat which it branches in a plurality of branches in at least twodifferent directions, each of said tube support member individuallyincluding a ferromagnetic component and being formed with an annularperiphery adjacent its ferromagnetic component; means for guiding saidtube support members during the travel thereof along said predeterminedtravel path, said guiding means including an endless member assemblyhaving an endless member and means for driving said endless member, saidendless member frictionally engaging said tube support members toadvance said tube support members along said predetermined travel pathin correspondence with the driving operation of said endless member,magnetic means including an annularly shaped first magnet selectivelyoperable to magnetically interact with said ferromagnetic components ofsaid tube support members and a cooperating member spaced from saidfirst magnet at a spacing less than the diameter of the annularperiphery of a tube support member, the cooperating member being in theform of an annularly shaped second magnet, said first and second magnetscooperating together to engage a tube support member atcircumferentially spaced locations thereon to respectively retain saidengaged tube support member at a predetermined location along saidpredetermined travel path, and means for controlling the lateralorientation of said tube support members on said endless membertransversely to the endless extent of said endless member, said lateralorientation controlling means being operable to laterally displace saidtube support members partially laterally beyond a respective lateralside of said endless member at the said predetermined retaininglocation, said lateral orientation controlling means cooperating withsaid first and second magnets to laterally displace a tube supportmember partially laterally beyond said one respective lateral side ofsaid endless member in position for magnetic interaction between theferromagnetic component of said laterally displaced tube support memberand said first and second magnets and said endless member acting toadvance a tube support member from said predetermined retaining locationin coordination with the operation of said first and second magnets toeffect advancement of tube support members through said junction to aselected one of said predetermined travel path branches and said secondmagnet being selectively magnetically activatable at a position adjacentsaid junction for guiding of tube support members through said junctiononto a selected branch of said predetermined travel path throughtranslational rotation of said tube support members about thecircumference of said annularly shaped second magnet; and means forselectively operating said magnetic means for magnetic interactionthereof with said tube support members to effect guiding of said tubesupport members and to magnetically interact with said ferromagneticcomponents of said tube support members to oppose said frictionalengagement of said tube support members by said endless member.
 21. Theassembly according to claim 20 and characterized further in that saidlateral orientation controlling means includes a component positioneddownstream of said location at which said second magnet magneticallyinteracts with said ferromagnetic components of said tube supportmembers relative to the direction of advancement of said tube supportmembers along said predetermined travel path for guiding tube supportmembers laterally inwardly relative to said endless member.
 22. Theassembly according to claim 1 and characterized further in that saidsensing means is operable to sense the characteristic that a tubesupport member is a predetermined one of a sequence of tube supportmembers sensed by said sensing means and said sensing means operatessaid means for selectively varying the magnetic interaction to divertsaid predetermined one tube support member.
 23. The assembly accordingto claim 22 and characterized further in that said sensing means sensesthe characteristic that a tube support member is the last one of thesequence of tube support members consisting of a predetermined number oftube support members.